ISIS spreading widely in Congo

The Islamic State group (ISIS) has returned to the scene with a series of terrorist operations in the Congo.

These operations have raised fears inside government quarters.

ISIS last claimed responsibility for an attack in that African country at the end of December 2021, when a suicide bomber blew himself up in its eastern apart on December 25.

ISIS posted a statement about the attack on its Telegram channel.

ISIS has been increasing its activities in the Congo in the past few days.

Foreign Policy magazine has recently thrown light on this, describing it in a report as both 'frightening' and 'worrying'.

The magazine said since its defeat in Iraq and Syria, ISIS has shifted its attention to Africa, especially the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The region, it said, has become a stronghold of the terrorist group.

The magazine noted that ISIS launched its terrorist operations on Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda through this country.

Beginnings

The emergence of ISIS in the Congo is slightly different from its appearance in any other African country.

ISIS in the Congo was made by groups that splintered from movements like al-Qaeda.

These groups swore allegiance to the terrorist organization. They included – among others – the Allied Democratic Forces Movement.

ISIS announced its presence by publishing videos about the Allied Democratic Forces movement, which are stationed in eastern Congo.

The group came later to be known as Islamic State of Central Africa.

The group also included Ansar al-Sunna group in Mozambique, which is active in Cabodelgado province in the northern part of the country.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ISIS Congo) launched a series of bloody attacks before and after allegiance to ISIS.

These attacks showed that the group is most violent in the eastern part of the Congo.